Bala by Unny; A Review (Part 02)
Balakistamma dominates the cover of Bala, a graphic narrative that blends humour, grit and visual ingenuity from its very first frame. In this two-part review by veteran editor and journalist, R. Rajagopal guides readers through the book’s striking storytelling choices, from its textured landscapes to its sharp, dialogue-driven frames, revealing how Bala turns everyday lives into high art without ever losing its bite. Read Part Two here. (Part One)
It gets better and better. Enter, the Ramayana through the 10-headed driver. It is great to see diversity in unity, full with a skullcap. The climbing dad borrows the dung heap theme, pitting Bala against the school that can’t find a woman driver. An unstated assertion: women are more reliable in the driver’s seat, no matter whether it is with the blade or at the wheel. Jai Bala!
Detailing. You can almost hear the familiar urban static fuelled by controlled chaos. The belched smoke is a nod to climate change. Touche!
Dad’s luck turns in the “unlucky” frame. Bala’s goat finds him. A flock of birds — the age-old wayfinders before Google Lady started giving directions — is also on the horizon.
Is the merry kid goat leading the huffing and puffing dad up the garden path?
Flashback. Dad and daughter are bonding over the Ramayana quiz. Up the hillock, where the promised range lies, you can spot a distracting deer.
And miles to go before dad can connect. But the deer resembles a kid goat now. Has Mareechan caught up with dad? Or, rather, can dad catch up with Mareechan?
Hurrah! Dad’s at the pinnacle and the kid goat is ambling away, mission accomplished.
The promised range has been delivered. Mareechan, the goat, helped dad avoid the 40-year wait that befell the doubting Israelites.
What a delightful conversation! No drama. No verbal acrobatics. Just a simple and staggering “Miss you, dad”. There is no better phrase to conclude “all’s well”. I feel like
standing up and singing the song immortalised by Yesudas:
ഇടയകന്യകേ പോവുക നീ
ഈയനന്തമാം ജീവിത വീഥിയിൽ
ഇടറാതെ, കാലിടറാതെ…
Dad also doesn’t stumble. He makes it back safe and in one piece. The trek back is told through five frames. No words. But you feel relieved. The cartoonist. speaks of the Ramayana but I am reminded of Calvary.
കൈയിലുയർത്തിയ കുരിശും കൊണ്ടേ
കാൽവരി നിൽപ്പൂ ദൂരെ
നിന്നാത്മാവിൽ ഉയിർത്തെണീക്കും
കണ്ണീരൊപ്പും നാഥൻ.
I suppose only a cartoonist, who has access only to the narrowest space, briefest sentences and smallest words, can take you across continents and two epics in 21 frames.
Bala’s blade has done its job. Bala’s appraising eye and the patron’s smooth cheeks and smile say the full story. But the last word must go to the camera kid whose pony tail has had a close shave but survived Bala’s scimitar: “Great shots, Chief!”
Great graphic story, Unny “Bala” bhesh!
To read Part One, Click here.
